ME gamers prepare for World Game Championships

The gaming season for this year’s World Game Championship (WGC) 2009 has kicked off.

Under the theme ‘Dubai Challenge’, the WGC 2009 sees a partnership between Magic Planet, MTV Arabia and the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD). It’s expected to tap into the Gulf’s growing gaming culture, with EMEA recognised as the second fastest growing video game region for the next five years.

The competition will involve multiple platforms including PC, console and online, with heats planned across Oman, Bahrain and the UAE over the next six months starting from Muscat in April. The finals will take place during the Dubai World Game Expo from October 27 – 29.

“We have bigger plans to take this (event) even further and hope we can be one of the main gaming events on the global arena,” said Eng. Anas Al Madani, VP, Index Holding at the launch of the WGC 2009 gaming season.

Aside from prizes worth up to AED 100,000, UAE nationals will also get the chance to represent their country in the World Cyber Games, which will be held later in the year in Chengdu, China.

Madani also revealed plans to start a gaming league to encourage people in the Middle East to take up gaming as a profession, along with a gamers club to encourage interaction and networking between players, event organisers and others from the gaming industry.